The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1887-03-31
HOUSE PLANTS AND SPRING
Instructions for Reporting and CarIuy for
Plants Mt this Season.
From fhp london, n,,nnn\

Qrom the London Qucen)
Where plants have been wintercd in
the dwelling house they will need care
ful attention during tho month of
March. When the weather is sufficient
ly mild the plants should be taken from
their winter quarters and any dust that
may have accumulated on the foliage
should be washed off with sponge and
water, and every dead or dccaying leaf
should be removed. Those subjects
sufficiently hardy to bear exposure may,
with great advantage, be placed on the
outer wipdow,sill, but they should not
be SO placed while there is cold wind
blowing, nor must they remain out all
night. The very best time to put the
plants out for the first time is when n
warm, gentle rain is falling, aptly termed
"growing" weather.
NOW is the time to make preparations
for spring potting, very necessary
repotted, should be watercd thoroughly
two days previous to tho day the opera
tlon is to be performed, SO that the soil
may be in a proper state, neither wet
nor dry, and the fresh compost used
should be in similar condition. If
new pots are to be used, let them be
soaked in water an hour or SO before the
plants arc put into them; if the pots
employed be old ones, they should be
well washed inside and out and allowed
to become perfectly dry. The drainage
should be perfect, and each plant should
have pot suitable to its size Over the
hole In the centre of the base Of the pot
large piece of broken flower pot, or
small oyster shell, should be placed, the
concave side downwards; thcn smaller
pieces Of flower pot should be added
or small, clean bits Of broken brick will
do-to the depth of at least an inch; the
plant that is to be repotted should be
taken upside down in the left hand, the
stem of the plant between the middle
fingers, the rim of the pot gently tapped
upon the edge Of the table or other con
vcnlent solid substance, when the pot
may be lifted with the right hand as
easily as the eXtinguisher from a candle.
The ball of soil about the roots should
be examined; if healthy the plants may
be put into pot o size larger than the
one from which it has just been taken
II any decayed roots present themselves
these should he nearly cut off, The re-
potting should be dono firmly, the soil |
being brought up to within half an inch |
OF the top of the rim of the pot; this will
leave space sufficient for Watering pW-
poses.
In the matters Of situation, soil and
pothng, plants require considerable |
diversity of treatment, yet although
these points are very essential in propa-
CATION, they are not vital in respect to-.
plants purchased during their season of
bloom; tho cultivation, or rather,
should say, the after treatment, lies III a
nutshell. They must receive water and
air in plenty, but the supplies must be
regulated according to the season and
nature of the plant. With the exception
of such subjects thirsty subjects / may
say-as musk, India-rubber plant and
Arum cthiopicum, no plants ordinarily
grown i'll rooms, should stand i'll sauccrs
full of water, and those plants I have
mentioned should only be allowed to do
SO during their season Of active growth.
With other plants the proper plan is
never to give water until the soil is dry,
then give plenty, sufficient, indeed, to
saturate every particle Of soil, root and
fibre, and when the surplus water has
passed through into the saucer, the
latter, after the expiration of quarter
OF an hour or SO, should be emptied,
wiped dry and replaced.
When the weather is favorable, that is
to say, when neither torrents Of rain,
frost or cutting winds prevail-the plants
should be taken from the room into the
open air, bringing them back-as l have
already said-towards evening.